Guy Fawkes Inn

The history of York is the history of England, someone once said, and it’s true that you can barely walk a yard without encountering something ridiculously iconic and historic. Take Guy Fawkes – of the failed Gunpowder Plot, the very reason for Bonfire Night – who was born in 1570 in the well-preserved townhouse that is now this cosy inn.

Thirteen en-suite bedrooms, hearty if upscale pub food, and a whole heap of dark-wood-and-beam, lamp-lit character – well, to be fair, you might get that in a few York hostelries, but here you also have genuine history hanging on your coattails. The Minster is literally across the way – you’re going to hear the bells during your stay – and Guy was christened in the church just across the street. Variously sized rooms (a few really rather sumptuous) are scattered throughout the building and across the courtyard; top, front-facing ones have Minster views, including the very splendid rooftop Belfry Suite. The vibe is very definitely ye-olde-worlde inn, though with a rather nice period restaurant and hideaway courtyard seating for those secret, conspiratorial get-togethers.